Electronic cigarette

ABSTRACT

An electronic cigarette comprises nicotine without harmful tar. The cigarette includes a shell, a cell, nicotine solution, control circuit, and an electro-thermal vaporization nozzle installed in the air suction end of the shell. The advantages of the present invention are smoking without tar, reducing the risk of cancer, the user still gets a smoking experience, the cigarette is not lit, and there is no fire danger.

This Application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/632,030, filed Jun. 23, 2017 and now pending, which is a Continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/091,296 filed Apr. 5, 2016, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,713,346, which is a Continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/328,561 filed Jul. 10, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No.9,364,027, which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/921,582 filed Jun. 19, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,910,641, which is aContinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/088,276 filed Apr.15, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,511,318, which is a Division of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/547,244 filed Feb. 27, 2006 and nowabandoned, which is the U.S. National Phase application of InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/CN2004/000182 filed Mar. 8, 2004, whichclaims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 03111582.9 filed Apr.29, 2003. These applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an electronic cigarette which contains onlynicotine without tar.

BACKGROUND ART

Despite it is commonly known that “smoking is harmful to your health”,the number of smokers worldwide is up to 1 billion, and the number isincreasing every year. According to the statistical data from the WorldHealth Organization, about 4.9 million people die of diseases caused bysmoking each year. Although smoking may cause serious respiratorydiseases and cancer, it remains extremely difficult for smokers to quitsmoking completely.

The active ingredient in a cigarette is nicotine. During smoking,nicotine, along with tar aerosol droplets produced in the burningcigarette, enters smoker's alveolus and is rapidly absorbed. After beingabsorbed into the blood of a smoker, nicotine then produces an effect onthe receptors of the smoker's central nervous system.

Nicotine is a kind of alkaloid with low molecular weight. A small doseof nicotine is essentially harmless to human body and its half-life inblood is quite short. The major harmful substance in tobacco is tar, andthe tar in tobacco is composed of thousands of ingredients, tens ofwhich are cancerogenic substances. At present, it has been proven thatpassive smoking can be harmful to non-smokers.

Some cigarette substitutes that contain only nicotine without tar havebeen proposed, and many of them, such as “nicotine patch”, “nicotinemouthwash”, “nicotine chewing gum”, “nicotine drink” etc., are made ofpure nicotine. Although these cigarette substitutes are free from tar,their major disadvantage is that an effective peak concentration cannotbe reached in the blood of a smoker due to slow absorption of nicotine.In addition, these cigarette substitutes cannot satisfy habitual smokingactions of a smoker, for example, inhaling action or sucking action, andthus are not likely to be widely accepted as effective substitutes forquitting smoking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide an electroniccigarette that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and providesa cigarette that looks like a normal cigarette. The electroniccigarette, which is an integrated assembly resembling a cigaretteholder, includes a shell, a cell, nicotine solution, a control circuit,a high temperature vaporization nozzle and accessories. Anelectro-thermal vaporization nozzle is arranged within an air suctionend of the shell. The control circuit provides starting current to theelectric heater within the vaporization nozzle. Under the hightemperature in the vaporization nozzle, the liquid is rapidly vaporizedto form a puff of smoke. The cell which provides power to the electricheater via the control circuit can be a disposable battery or arechargeable battery.

The advantages of the present invention include smoking without tar,significantly reducing the cancerogenic risk. Furthermore, users stillfeel as if they are smoking, and the cigarette has no need to be lit andhas no fire risk.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of the device in the first example inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the circuit structure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the high temperaturevaporization nozzle and the electric-thermal element.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the valve made of memory alloy.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the peristaltic pump made of memoryalloy.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the peristaltic pump.

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of the electronic cigarette in a secondexample.

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of the electronic cigarette in a thirdexample.

FIG. 9 is a structural diagram of the electronic cigarette in a fourthexample.

FIG. 10 is a structural diagram of the metering cavity in the fourthexample.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The high frequency generator of a control circuit board 8 is composed ofa capacitance connecting three point type oscillator, an inductanceconnecting three point type oscillator, or a transformer-typeoscillating circuit, which has the frequency of 35 KHz to 3.3 MHz. Thecircuit includes an automatic frequency fine-adjusting circuitresonating with a piezoelectric element 20. A nicotine solution storagecontainer 13 is made of silicon rubber, alternatively, other polymersthat can be protected against the penetration of nicotine can be used. Aone-way valve for liquid injection 12 is sealed by a ball or cone memberunder the pressure of a spring. An airflow sensor 18 can be comprised ofan array of integrated thermal sensitive resistors in the shape of film.The electrode of a resistance or capacitance sensor 19, which issensitive to touches of human body, is composed of an upper metal filmand a lower metal film and located at the end of the cigarette holder.The changes of the resistance or capacitance parameters due to humantouch are inputted into the control circuit to perform the operation ofa body sensitive switch.

The electric controlled pump 11, driven by a motor or a linear motor,drives a retarder that has a large speed ratio, via a shaft coupling, torevolve at a low speed but with large torque. The pump can be aperistaltic pump, a plunger pump, an eccentric pump or a screw pump.Alternatively, the liquid pump can use piezoelectric pump, a supermagnetostrictive pump, a thermal expansion drive pump, a thermalcontraction drive pump, a thermal bubble pump. The electric control pumpor valve may be thermal contractible.

The valve is formed on a silicon rubber tube by nickel-titanium memoryalloy or copper-based memory alloy under the force of electro-thermalcontractions.

The electro-thermal vaporization nozzle 17 is made of high-temperatureresistant materials with low thermal conductivity. The nozzle 17 is atubule, with the internal diameter of 0.05-2 mm and the effectiveworking length of 3-20 mm. An electric heating element is providedwithin the nozzle, and the shapes of the electric heating element andthe cavity of the nozzle are designed to facilitate vaporization andejection of liquid. The vaporization nozzle 17 may be made ofconventional ceramics, or be made of aluminum silicate ceramics,titanium oxide, zirconium dioxide, yttrium oxide ceramics, moltensilicon, silicon dioxide, molten aluminum oxide. The vaporization nozzle17 may be in the shape of straight tube or spiral, and may also be madefrom polytetrafluoethylene, carbon fiber, glass fiber or other materialswith similar properties.

The electric heating element arranged within the vaporization nozzle 17may be made of wires of nickel chromium alloy, iron chromium aluminumalloy, stainless steel, gold, platinum, tungsten molybdenum alloy, etc.,and may be in the shape of straight line, single spiral, double spiral,cluster or spiral cluster, wherein the straight line and cluster arepreferred. The heating function of the electric heating element may beachieved by applying a heating coating on the inner wall of the tube,and the coating may be made from electro-thermal ceramic materials,semiconductor materials, corrosion-resistant metal films, such as gold,nickel, chromium, platinum and molybdenum. The method for coating caninclude a coat sintering process, a chemical deposition sinteringprocess and an ion spraying process. The materials mentioned above canbe provided within the inner wall of vaporization nozzle in any of theprocesses mentioned above.

The nozzle with high resistance, made of metal, can have no electricheating element being attached, and can be directly applied with heatingcurrent. Alternatively, the materials mentioned above can be arrangedoutside of the nozzle in any of the ways mentioned above, and anappropriate response time can also be achieved in the power supply modeof short-term preheating. Nicotine solution used in the atomizationprocess comprises nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerol, organic acids,anti-oxidation agents, essence, water and alcohol, in which the nicotinecontent is 0.1%-6%, propylene glycol content 80%-90%, organic acids0.2%-20%, the rest is glycerol, essence, anti-oxidation agents, waterand alcohol.

Example 1: The Structural Diagram of the Device Shown in FIG. 1

When a smoker puts the cigarette holder on his/her mouth, the resistancesensor 19 activates the control circuit board 8. The control circuitboard 8 then outputs two driving voltages respectively, one used tosupply power to the electric heating element of the vaporization nozzle17 and the other used to activate the micro pump 11 (shown in FIG. 6).The stored solution is then pumped to the nozzle 17 by the solutionstorage container 13. On the electric heating element of the nozzle 17,the nicotine solution is then vaporized into high temperature vaporwhich is subsequently ejected from the opening end. In the air, thevapor ejected out is then expanded and condensed into micro aerosoldroplets.

The effect of the ultrasonic piezoelectric element 20 mounting on thenozzle is that, firstly, the large liquid droplets in the unstablethermal airflow under high pressure will be in sufficient contact withthe electric heating element, and thereby be vaporized.

Secondly, the liquid droplets in the nozzle 17 are directly fragmentedand atomized.

Thirdly, possible bumping when the liquid is above a boiling point willbe avoided. The effect of integrated atomization will allow aerosoldroplets with diameters of 0.2-3 um to enter into the alveolus easilyand be absorbed. The airflow sensor 18 is sensitive to the diluted airwhich enters through air inlet 16 when a “suction” action take places.The sensed signals are transmitted to the control circuit, and thecontrol circuit then stops supplying power to the micro pump and theelectric heater after a certain time delay.

The relay relationship between the time delays of the micro pump andelectric heater is as follows: after the electric heater is activated,the micro pump is activated after a time delay of 0.1-0.5 seconds; theelectric heater is then turned off after a time delay of 0.2-0.5 secondswhen the control circuit of the micro pump is turned off, so as toguarantee a complete vaporization of the liquid after quantitativeliquid injection without any leftovers.

The nicotine solution container may be designed to be different sizes asrequired. The nicotine solution may be refilled once a day, or once acouple of days. The liquid crystal display screen 10 can show operatingstate parameters, such as cell capacity, smoking times per day, averageusing cycle and warnings for over smoking. A red LED 3 blinks for eachsmoking action, and a sawtooth wave signal that lasts for 1.2 seconds isgiven by the control circuit for blinking signals, which provides agradual change of luminance to imitate the ignition and combustionprocess of a conventional cigarette. The charger 1, charging jack 2,spring 4, cell 5, shell 6, threads 7, switch 9, passage tube 14 andbaffle plate 15 are shown in FIG. 1. The silicon gel tube 601, pinchroller 602, worm 603 and motor 604 are shown in FIG. 6.

The control circuit and the ultrasonic micro pump may be integrated onone single chip by using a Micro Electronic Mechanical System (MEMS).

Example 2: The Simplified Electronic Cigarette

FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of the simplified device in which theultrasonic atomization high frequency generator and the piezoelectricceramic element 20 are omitted. To achieve a desirable atomizationeffect, tiny heating wires are used in combination with the nozzle (seeFIG. 3), so that the maximum diameters of one or more vaporizationcavities formed between the heating wire and the inner wall of thenozzle range from 0.02 mm to 0.6 mm. The function of the airflow sensor18 omitted is replaced by the manner that the initial signal of theresistance or capacitance sensor 119 is delayed a certain time via thecontrol circuit and acts as the ending signal. The electronic cigaretteis configured as follows: the vaporization nozzle 117, the thermal drivepump 111 (see FIG. 5) made of nickel titanium memory alloy wire, and theliquid storage container 113 connected to the thermal drive pumpconstitute a liquid transmission system. Two outputs of the controlcircuit board 108 are respectively connected to the electric heater andthe pump or valve. A body sensitive resistance sensor 119 is connectedto the input of the control circuit. The cell 105 and red LED 103 areprovided in the front end within the shell, and resemble a cigaretteholder, a pipe or a pen.

The thermal drive pump is an electro-thermal shrinkable peristalticpump, made of wires of nickel titanium memory alloy or copper basedalloy, with gel tube which is pressed at three points respectivelyduring the process of electro-thermal contraction to form a pressurecavity for pumping out liquid. The change of volume of the cavity withinthe thermal drive pump determines the quantity of the solution to beatomized each time. Upon contacting with user's mouth, the resistancesensor 119 activates the control circuit 108, the control circuit 108then provides operating current to the thermal drive pump and theelectric heater, and the output of the control circuit is turned offafter the delay of 2 seconds for reactivation at the next smokingaction. Alternatively, a thermal expansion drive pump or a thermalbubble pump is also applicable. The thermal expansion drive pump forms apressure cavity for pumping out liquid by allowing a micro hydrogencontainer with an embedded electric heating element to block the liquidinlet and open the liquid outlet at the time of thermal expansion. Thecharging jack 102, LED 103, cell 105, switch 109, liquid-refilling valve112 and air hole 116 are shown in FIG. 7.

The electrode lead wire 401, heating wire 402, thread 403, base 404 andnozzle 405 are shown in FIG. 3. The support 501, extension spring 502,pumping-out pressure plate 503, silicon gel tube 504, stop pressureplate 505, supporting spring 506, memory alloy wire 507, electrode A508, electrode B 509 and electrode 510 are shown in FIG. 5.

Example 3: The Electronic Cigarette Made of a Ni—Ti Memory Alloy

FIG. 8 is a structural diagram of the electronic cigarette. Theelectro-thermal vaporization nozzle 217 of the device is connected tothe liquid storage container 213 via a pneumatic valve 220. The superelastic member 210 is connected to the pressure plate 211 which isconnected to the liquid storage container 213. The pneumatic valve iscomposed of a pneumatic film 214, a magnetic steel ring 218, a steelvalve needle 220 and a reset spring 221. The super elastic member 210,which is made of Ni—Ti memory alloy, is used to apply a constantpressure on the liquid storage container via the pressure plate 211.When the pneumatic valve opens, the liquid with nicotine enters thevaporization nozzle from the liquid storage container via the pneumaticvalve and is vaporized and condensed subsequently to form a puff ofsmoke at high temperature. Upon contacting with user's mouth, theresistance sensor activates the control circuit to supply power to theelectric heater. When the user performs suction action, the Nd—Fe—Bpermanent magnetic alloy ring attracts the valve needle to move inresponse to the pneumatic film being subjected to negative pressure.Liquid is supplied when the valve needle opens, and after the pneumaticvalve is reset, power supply to the electric heater is turned off afterthe delay of 0.5 seconds by the control circuit. The LED 203, chargingjack 202, cell 205, control circuit 208, switch 209, refilling valve212, baffle plate 215, air hole 216 and resistance sensor 219 are shownin FIG. 8.

Example 4: The Electronic Spray Cigarette Utilizing the Pressure of aContainer

In the device (see FIG. 9), the electro-thermal vaporization nozzle 317,the electronic valve 311 connected with the metering cavity 320, and theliquid storage container 313 form a liquid transmission passage. A gasvessel filled with high-pressure nitrogen is arranged around theperiphery of the liquid storage container to exert pressure thereon tofacilitate the transmission of the liquid. When a control signal isapplied to the electronic valve, the electronic valve is activated, andthe solution with nicotine enters the metering cavity from the liquidstorage container under pressure. The solution pushes a piston so as toallow a constant volume of liquid at the other side of the piston toenter the vaporization nozzle via the electronic valve. The meteringcavity provided at the valve is a cylinder having a liquid inlet and aliquid outlet. Located within the cylinder are the piston micro holesand the reset spring connected onto the piston. The control circuitwhich is activated by the resistance sensor 319 controls the states ofthe electronic valve and the electric heater respectively. Due to slowinfiltration of the micro hole of the piston in the metering cavity andthe force of the reset spring, the piston returns to its originalposition within 5-8 seconds after each atomization process. The cell305, pressure vessel 321, pressure chamber 322, seal threaded-opening323, control circuit board 308 and air hole 316 are showed in FIG. 9.

The silicon gel tube 406, pressure-stopping plate 407, memory alloywires 408, support 409, electrode lead wire 410 and pressure spring 411are shown in FIG. 4. The inlet 701, piston 702, micro hole of the piston703, metering cavity 704, reset spring 705 and outlet 706 are shown inFIG. 10.

The recipes of nicotine solution used are:

1. 6% nicotine, 85% propylene glycol, 2% glycerol, 2% essence, 1%organic acid and 1% anti-oxidation agent;

2. 4% nicotine, 80% propylene glycol, 5% glycerol, 1% butyl valerate, 1%isopentyl hexonate, 0.6% lauryl laurate, 0.4% benzyl benzoate, 0.5%methyl octynicate, 0.2% ethyl heptylate, 0.3% hexyl hexanoate, 2%geranyl butyrate, 0.5% menthol, 0.5% citric acid and 4% tobacco essence;

3. 2% nicotine, 90% propylene glycol, 2.5% citric acid, 1% essence and4.5% tobacco essence;

4. 0.1% nicotine, 80% propylene glycol, 5% glycerol, 8% alcohol, 2.9%water, 1% essence, 1% tobacco essence and 2% organic acid.

I claim:
 1. A vaporizing device, comprising: a rechargeable battery in ahousing, the rechargeable battery electrically connected to a controlcircuit; a charging connector in the housing for charging therechargeable battery; an LED in the housing electrically connected tothe control circuit; at least one air inlet for allowing air to flowinto the housing; a wire coil heating element inside of the housing, thewire coil heating element electrically connected to the control circuit,and with the wire coil heating element in contact with a ceramicmaterial; a liquid storage container holding a liquid movable intocontact with the ceramic material; and the at least one air inletleading into an air flow path in the housing to an outlet on thehousing, with the at least a portion of the ceramic material in the airflow path.
 2. The vaporizing device of claim 1 further including an airflow sensor positioned to sense air flow in the air flow path, with theair flow sensor electrically connected to the control circuit.
 3. Thevaporizing device of claim 1 further including a switch electricallyconnected to the control circuit for switching on the wire coil heatingelement.
 4. The vaporizing device of claim 1 with the charging connectorat a first end of the housing.
 5. The vaporizing device of claim 1wherein the wire coil heating element is wrapped around the ceramicmaterial.
 6. The vaporizing device of claim 5 wherein the ceramicmaterial comprises a cylindrical element.
 7. A vaporizing device,comprising: a first housing attachable to and detachable from a secondhousing; a rechargeable battery in the first housing electricallyconnected to a control circuit; a charging connector in the firsthousing electrically connected to the rechargeable battery; the firsthousing having an LED electrically connected to the control circuit; atleast one air inlet for allowing air to flow into the second housing; aheating element comprising a wire coil inside of the second housing, theheating element electrically connected to the control circuit, and withthe heating element contacting a ceramic material; the second housingcontaining a liquid movable into contact with the ceramic material; andthe at least one air inlet connecting into an air flow path in thesecond housing leading to an outlet on the second housing.
 8. Thevaporizing device of claim 7 further including an air flow sensorelectrically connected to the control circuit.
 9. The vaporizing deviceof claim 7 further including a switch electrically connected to thecontrol circuit for switching on the wire coil.
 10. The vaporizingdevice of claim 7 with the liquid in a liquid container in the secondhousing.
 11. The vaporizing device of claim 7 wherein the wire coil iswrapped around the ceramic material.
 12. The electronic vaporizingdevice of claim 7 with the control circuit configured to controlluminance of the LED when the air flow sensor senses airflow, such thatthe LED simulates the appearance of a conventional burning cigarettetip.
 13. The electronic vaporizing device of claim 7 with the housinghaving a first section attached to a second section, and with thebattery in the first section.